Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 January 2010
350 Deputy Charlie O’Connor asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will direct his officials to make contact with the management of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24 to deal with the concerns of the school community in respect of threatened staff cuts; if his attention has been drawn to the importance of this school maintaining its full services to the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2788/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy is referring to the level of special needs assistant (SNA) support in the school in question.
As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for allocating resource teachers and SNAs to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.
I have arranged for the details supplied to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
